Peniel Welsh Chapel

Peniel Welsh Chapel – Directions

GPS location of (and directions to) the chapel:  W9644 Zoar Road, Oshkosh (7 miles north of Rosendale on Hwy 26 then 0.5 mile west on County Hwy FF)

For more information, find Peniel Welsh Chapel on Facebook or contact Tom White at (920) 266-7739 or tjwhite65@charter.net.

Peniel Events

Peniel Welsh Chapel has the following events planned for this year. All events are held at Peniel Welsh Chapel unless otherwise noted. A downloadable brochure will soon be available.

ST. DAVID’S DAY GYMANFA GANU AND CELEBRATION
March 2, 2025 – 2:30 p.m.
LOCATION: St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, 1250 Leonard Point Road, Oshkosh WI
Director: Ann Lemmenes; Accompanist: Sarah Conrad
Te bach to follow.

Read about the successful gymanfa ganu held in honor of St. David.

WELSH TEA AT THE DOE HOUSE
April 12, 2025 – 2:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Doe House, 456 Mt. Vernon Street, Oshkosh WI
$20 per person; reservations required; details forthcoming

THE NEW GENERATION SINGERS
May 10, 2025 – 6:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Peniel Welsh Chapel
“The New Generation Singers”
Refreshments to follow.

WELSH WEDDINGS PRESENTATION
June 21, 2025 – 6:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Peniel Welsh Chapel
Welsh Weddings Presentation
Refreshments to follow.

OLD TIME RADIO HOUR
July 19, 2025 – 6:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Peniel Welsh Chapel
“Old Time Radio Hour” including The Men of Praise.
Refreshments to follow.

WELSH WEEKEND SATURDAY EVENTS
Welsh Weekend Poster
August 23, 2025
LOCATION: Bethesda Cemetery, 479 Clairville Road, Oshkosh WI
Bethesda Cemetery Hunt
LOCATION: Peniel Welsh Chapel
Time TBD Eduardo Camwy talk about the Welsh in Patagonia
4:30 p.m. Supper (donation, RSVP to Carolee Schultz at 920-858-0320 or email joynjesus4you@yahoo.com)
6:00 p.m. Concert

WELSH WEEKEND SUNDAY WORSHIP AND ANNUAL GYMANFA GANU
August 24, 2025
LOCATION: Bethesda Presbyterian Church, 479 Clairville Road, Oshkosh WI
9:00 a.m. Worship Service
LOCATION: Peniel Welsh Chapel
2:30 p.m. 103rd Annual Gymanfa Ganu

Director: TBD; Reed Organist: Rev. Tom White; Pianist: Sarah Conrad
Te bach to follow.

A MERRY EVENING OF SONG (NOSON LAWEN)
September 20, 2025 – 6:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Peniel Welsh Chapel
Siow Dalent/Talent show; sign up to participate; details forthcoming
Refreshments to follow.

PAST PENIEL EVENTS

Peniel Welsh Chapel – 100th Anniversary of Gymanfa Ganu

In 2022 a number of special events were planned in the Oshkosh area to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Peniel Gymanfa Ganu. Most were held at Peniel Welsh Chapel in the Town of Eldorado. Proceeds benefitted community outreach programs and Peniel Chapel restoration. Participants were encouraged to come in costume to the themed events.

Peniel Welsh Cookbook

Sisters Olwen Morgan Welk and Ilah Morgan put the Welsh Cooking book together so that everyone preparing food for Welsh events would have the same recipes.

In 2022, the Peniel Welsh Chapel 100th Gymanfa Ganu committee modernized these recipes, added to the collection, and used stories and photos to develop a Peniel Welsh Chapel Historic Highlights/Welsh Cooking book.

Its introduction says: “As a way to commemorate the 100 years of cymanfaoedd canu (the Welsh plural of gymanfa ganu, a Welsh/English song gathering), this scrapbook contains some historic milestones of Peniel Welsh Chapel as well as favorite Welsh recipes. Biographies of the families that helped build the church’s heritage complement this book. We hope you enjoy the tasty recipes provided. These recipes were donated by the many ladies who touched the history of Peniel Welsh Chapel, both past and present.”

To obtain a copy of the 2022 cookbook, contact Lynette Booth, Treasurer, Peniel Welsh Chapel Association by mail at 893 Harmel Ave., Oshkosh WI 54902 or by email at boothlynette@hotmail.com.
A donation of $10.00 or more is suggested.

 

 

Peniel Volunteer Opportunities

We welcome you to be part of the Peniel Welsh Chapel family by sharing your time and talents as a caring new or continuing volunteer. We have many opportunities available. These are as simple as being a greeter or supplying food for only one event, to becoming a board member for a 3 year term or longer.

The Peniel Welsh Chapel Association bylaws state our purpose: “The purpose of the Peniel Welsh Chapel Association is to preserve the 1856 Peniel Chapel as a house of God for Christian worship and the annual Gymanfa Ganu, for celebrating the Welsh heritage and welcoming community events.”

Please consider offering your talents to promote our purpose and welcome guests to this special House of God.

Peniel Remodeling Effort

The Peniel Welsh Chapel remodeling effort began in 2011. Thanks to individual, family, and business donations, and much sweat equity Peniel Welsh Chapel has been remodeled over the years to make it a safer historic chapel for summer events, worship, weddings and other activities.

Remodeling plans continue, and maintenance is constantly taking place. Send donations to: Peniel Welsh Chapel Association, c/o Lynette Booth,  Treasurer, 893 Harmel Avenue, Oshkosh, WI 54902.

2016: The name “Peniel” is defined as “The face of God.” Peniel Welsh Chapel was far from that! The “face,” or entrance, to the building had major damage in the spring of 2016 and needed a face-lift. A section of the concrete step had broken away. Many cracks which had been securely repaired in the past had separated. The wooden steps were coming apart and none of the front entry was up to building code and was a safety hazard.

  

Improvements included a composite deck and steps with an added handicap ramp, plus new doors with opening windows, bringing the entire entrance to building code and handicap accessibility. An overflow crowd at the 2016 Annual Gymanfa Ganu enjoyed the new facade.

The first photo was taken by Phillip White; the second photo was taken by Carolee Schultz.

 

2018: Fundraising began to add stainless steel siding, insulation, trip, soffit and fascia improvements.

2021: Before the 100th anniversary of the Peniel Gymanfa Ganu in August, exterior and interior improvements were completed.

 

Peniel_rainbow
(photo by Joanna Kamps)